Territory



(No Model.)

H. A. STARKEY.

LAP DESK.

Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

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UNiTEn STATES HELEN A. srnnnnv, on storm PATENT OEEieE.

FALLS, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

LAP-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,669, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed September 21, 1888. Serial No. 285,983. (No modeld To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HELEN A. STARKEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux Falls, in the county of Minnehaha and Territory of Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient writing-desk for travelers use, the same being provided with pockets and receptacles for stationery, postage, &c., and adapted to protect the contents from dust, cinders, and external interference gen erally. To this end I make use of a stiff base or writing board, which may be in the lap, and the middle part of which is adapted to be written on, the face of this board on each side of this central part being provided with pockets for stationery, and the ends of the board having flaps attached to them in which additional pockets are formed, the said flaps folding over, so as to protect the contents of the pockets in the board, and also of the pockets in themselves.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my lap-desk with the flaps open; and Fig. 2 represents a a plan view, the flaps being closeil.

A designates the base or lap btard, which may be of light wood or any other stiff material not too heavy, and is covered with felt or other fabric. The middle part of the face of this lap-board, except a space at the top, is occupied by atablet, o, of blotting-paper,which is removably held in place by corner-pieces a, of flexible material, fastened to said board. To the covering of said lap-board an inkstand, B, is secured above the right upper corner of said blotting-tablet a, and a pen-wiper, C, is attached likewise above the left-hand corner. In the interval between them and above the central part of tablet a raised loops 7) (3, formed with said covering of the board, may serve to hold a paper-cutter and pen-holder or other, useful articles of convenient size and form.

To the right of the tablet the face of the 1ap-board is provided with pockets D E, formed in its covering to hold stationery, and the corresponding part of th 0 face at the other end of said board is provided with similar pockets, F G. Above the pockets D E is a calendar-frame, H. Above the pockets F G is a broader pocket, I, for postal-cards, having two small pockets, i 2', for postage-stamps on its face. A pencil-holding loop, J, is located between the pockets F G and the tablet a. Of course this and the other loops, pockets, and attached parts herein mentioned may be shifted as to position and new ones may be added wherever convenient; bat thestationery-holding pockets must be so located as to be protected from dust and cinders by the flaps, to be described. These are two in number, (marked K L on the drawings,) and are provided with pockets k Z l, which have their mouths inward when said flaps are thrown back and extend at right angles to the pockets, before described. The material of these flaps is preferably felt, though any soft textile fabric would do. Their inner edges are attached to the felt covering of the board A, or they maybe in one piece therewith. Their pockets are used for holding stationery, photographs, or small fiat articles of any convenient kind. \Vhen access to these is desired, the flaps are turned back, as in Fig. 1,and this is done also to allow access to the contents of the pockets on the face of the lapboard A. lVhen the paper or other articles needed have been withdrawn, the flaps K L may be turned over onto the face of saidlapboard, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby all the pockets and their contents will be protected from dust, cinders, and accident, although the tablet a will be left uncovered as a base or lap-desk for writing. Thus the traveler is en abled to write in the cars,with all his stationery within a few inches of his hand, yet exposed to no risk of soiling the paper not actually in use.

The pockets in the flaps enable the latter to subserve two uses, each being a receptacle as well as a protector, so that the quantity of paper and other flat articles which may be carried and kept in this lap-desk is greatly increased thereby. hen the flaps are folded, the lap-desk occupies very little space and may be convenient-1y packed in the bottom of a trunk or carried by hand,or put up a number together for storage or shipment.

Having thus described in y inventionavl at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A lap-desk having a base of stiff material, provided with a central space for writingand pockets at the sides thereof for holding paper and similar articles, in combination with flaps attached to the ends of said base and adapted to be folded over said pockets to protect thennleaving said central space nncovered, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a stiff base or lap board having a pocket on its face, and also a part for writing; on which remains uncovered a flap, also provided with a pocket and attached to said board, in order that when folded HELEN A. STARKEY.

Witnesses:

D. R. BAILEY, PARK Davis, v 

